Williamsville girls soccer stuns Bloomington Central Catholic for elusive sectional title
WILLIAMSVILLE — Madi Rigdon has previously scored from long range, but nothing quite like that in a match with this much magnitude.
The senior defender summoned the game-tying shot from 40 yards away and Williamsville rallied to a shocking 2-1 girls soccer victory over Bloomington Central Catholic in the final seven minutes for its first Class 1A sectional title since 2016 at Paul Jenkins Field on a gusty Tuesday evening.
The goalkeeper attempted to scramble back to the net but the ball landed just out of reach with 6 minutes, 21 seconds left.
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It was Rigdon’s fifth goal of the season.
“I knew it was open, so I just went for it,” Rigdon said. “Luckily it hung up so she didn’t have enough time to find it in the air and it went in.”
Williamsville (22-4) kept up the pressure and junior Emillie Mikus' cross found sophomore Calynn Frye for the go-ahead goal with 1:53 remaining following a throw-in.
“I was so shocked,” Mikus said. “I was so glad she was there to help us win the game today.”
Frye put just enough zip on the ball, which rolled inside the near post.
“I just saw the ball at my feet and I knew we had to shoot the ball,” Frye said.
“I was surprised, I wasn’t expecting it. We knew what we had to do to come back, we wanted that.”
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Williamsville, which won its third straight regional title, advances to the Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central Supersectional against Rock Island Alleman on Saturday at 11 a.m. Alleman dispatched Stillman Valley 5-0.
“It was a tough game, and soccer’s a mental sport,” Frye said. “You have to fight until the end and that’s what we did.”
BCC's Sophia Yaklich assisted to Meg Uhren to put the Saints (16-8) ahead 1-0 with 22 minutes left.
CLASS 2A
PLEASANT PLAINS/NEW BERLIN 2, CHAMPAIGN CENTRAL 0: At the Pleasant Plains Sectional, Bailey Leach supplied a goal in the first half before Sophia Taft sealed the win with the insurance goal with only five minutes left to advance to Friday's sectional final against Chatham Glenwood.
CHATHAM GLENWOOD 4, MAHOMET-SEYMOUR 0: At the Pleasant Plains Sectional, Rylann Law unleashed two goals while twin sister, Rowann added another as the Titans take aim at their fourth straight sectional crown.
Rylann delivered the opening goal in the first half before Rowann added the insurance goal midway through the second half.
Aubrie Haas also scored for Glenwood, the defending 2A state champions. Glenwood previously fell to Plains 1-0 in April during the regular season.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Williamsville girls soccer rallies past Bloomington Central Catholic
